Does A 40-Year Search For My Family End Today? | KARAMO

So when did you first start to realize that you were different from your other siblings?

When I was younger, it's like their dad would come pick them up. My brother's dad and my sister's dad would come pick 'em up. And then my younger siblings, their dad was my stepdad, so. And just watching them leave with their dads and I was always left by myself. So it made me question who my dad was.

Makes sense to me. Do all of your siblings know who their fathers are?

All of 'em.

Okay.

Follow.

So during that entire time, you were the one left behind and confused of what's going on?

Correct.

We have this graph that better illustrates your family dynamic. Can you explain to everyone what I'm seeing here, we're all seeing here?

Yeah. Tariqa and Brenda, they both have the same dad. Brenda, myself, and Bryan, we all have the same mom.

Got it.

So, so that's how we're all.

Okay, so Bryan's father could be your father or Brenda's father could be your father as well.

Correct.

Got it, I understand now. Okay, perfect. So today you will find out if Tarika is your sister if Brenda's father is your father.

Correct.

Got it, I understand.

Right.

Okay, I got it. Now I understand what we need the graph. I got it now, I understand. How would your mother react when you first started asking her who your father was?

What was her response? At first she would just say nothing at first.

Okay.

And then when I start like really coming to her about it, and then she told me the possibility.

Got it. And who did she end up saying your father was?

She told me that it was my brother's father.

So it was Bryan's father?

Correct.

Got it, okay then. And then why didn't it just end there?

Because when I approached him at about the age 9 or 10 years old, we was at a football game actually. And I walked up to him, it was like the '90s, so you know, the combat boots, the big shorts, and the big sweatshirts. Walking up to him like, "Hey, you're my dad." And he was like, "Your mom's a liar. She needs to tell you the truth." That was his exact words to me.

That's what Bryan's— your father said to you at 10 years old?

Correct.

Oh my gosh. And who did Bryan's father say your real dad was?

He said it was Tariqa's father.

Got it.

Tariqa and Brenda's father.

Understand. And what has TG said about all this?

I mean, he's been kind of a good sport about it. He told me, "You're beautiful. I mean, I would love to have you as my daughter." But he was like, "I doinked your mom one time and that was it." And that was with my sister Brenda. That was his answer.

Wow. So both of them are both saying they're not sure themselves.

Correct.

Wow.

Got it. And TG is Tariqa's father?

Tariqa and Brenda's father.

Tariqa and Brenda's father. Correct. Okay then. Do you talk to your dad about Brandy and—

I do.

And what does he say?

He says that Brandy has a wonderful spirit. He loves Brandy as an individual because again, like she said, we're from a little old place. So even if, I'm in that area and we're together, Brandy is always with us. So it's never like a situation where I'm kind of with my dad and she's, you know, like, you know, it's all family. Um, so he definitely loves her and he said that he would do whatever, but he just don't believe that he is her father. Now he has made a statement because Brandy, he has other children, and even coming from me, I do feel like Brandy resembles my sisters, but my dad's side more than me and Brenda do.

Got it.

And that's what the confusion is, is because it's not to say, oh, she doesn't favor any of them, even though our dad, I mean, Bryan's dad and my dad would be considered as cousins. She just has a strong demeanor when it comes to just like that part.

Yeah, got it.

He says that all the time. He's like, you look just like my sister. But the thing is, 'cause the guys are cousins on the dad's side. So like Brian's dad and Turka's dad, their dads are brothers. So the DNA is strong regardless.

So it's kind of like she would look like either or.

Yeah, you would look like her.

She could look like my cousin's side or she could be my, you know.

Yeah, it makes sense now.

That's how I got growing up, so.

Got it, understand.

I love my sisters. When you think about it, it hurts.

Yeah.

I'm 42. I have my own kids and they know who I am.

Yeah.

And I think she deserves that.

Yes.

No, I know she deserves that, you know? So with that being said, I'm her daddy.

Big brother, raised her.

You know what I'm saying? So I got her back. I have 5, 6 sisters. I'm dad.

Yeah.

I'm glad that we are here right now.

Yeah.

It just kind of boils down to that generation of parents. They know what happened. Somebody needs to tell the truth and they didn't expect us to grow up and wanna know the truth.

Well, we're gonna get the truth today.

They didn't think we was gonna be so out front with what we say and I am very outspoken. So I probably said some things that they probably like, who you think you are? But they don't understand what the damage that they done mentally and physically and emotionally they have done to me.

And I do just wanna say like, this is literally like no disrespect to back at home, neither parents, nobody. All this is is just us having no other choice.

We just want to know.

But to get to the bottom of this. And again, it took you to even allow us to get this far.

I do appreciate you.

Well, I think it's, we've gotten to the point now, I understand the story, that we get to the DNA outcome, Brandi, and so that you can get your answers.

Okay.

Are you ready for this? So we have two DNA results. This gives us the truth if your brother's father could be yours or your sister's father could be yours.

Okay.

So here goes the first one. This is your truth to open, not mine. If you could read it out loud for us.

It's a long, long time.

Yeah.

A long emotional journey. Y'all ready?

Are you ready?

Yeah.

Hold it. Bryan's father is not your biological father.

It's okay, Brent.

Breathe, girl.

It's okay.

It's okay.

What are you feeling right now? Is it just knowing the truth? You weren't expecting that. So you were thinking that his father could have been yours?

Just 'cause of what my mom always told me. And I never wanted to not believe her, but I have to. To believe that he's not my father 'cause—

You have the DNA results now. Yeah. How are you feeling this moment, Bryan?

It doesn't matter what any of these envelopes are showing. I'm not going anywhere.

Yeah, of course. Well, we have one more DNA truth. This is for you as well to open.

Trigger Father TG is your biological father.

Oh my God, thank God. Oh, thank God.

Oh my God.

Oh my gosh. Okay, how do you feel in this moment? I mean, I know there's shock.

Oh my God, this— oh my God, like I have enough. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh.

All right.

Oh my gosh. I literally was not expecting this. I literally—

Karamo, I'm sorry. Thank you so much. You're welcome.

You're welcome.

You're welcome.

You're welcome. So you weren't expecting this at all?

When I tell you, I literally had no idea. Idea because I really didn't. But one thing that said to me was like, Brandy looks like my other siblings so bad. Which is fine, I mean. And it's crazy because out of all the siblings, me and Brandy has this underlying like, who's the toughest? Like we got this like. And now it's like I fully see like what the battle was about. Like, y'all have no clue how.

Appalled and I cannot believe this.

I appreciate you.

Yeah, you have your answers now. You said something earlier, Brandy, you said, well, I don't know who I belong to.

Oh my God.

And now you know you belong to Tariqa and Brenda.

It explains why I look like his sister.

And you still belong to Bryan. Bryan's your family too. But now you have your answers. Now you're able to to have this proof, to see, and also to share, to understand that you share the same heart. This is your family.

That is so deep.

The thing that I realized is that between you all, the love and support has never wavered.

Never.

And I know it's never gonna waver. These adults made bad decisions when you all were children, but you all understood even as young people that you had to stick together to love each other and support each other.

Like this girl came, like she came into my life by accident. It then based off of my oldest sister to turn out to really be my sister.

Yeah.

I think I'm more shocked than the whole situation.

32 years me and Trica have been wondering if we were sisters.

But we was so close that, like I said, even if it would've said that my dad was not her dad, the bond that we have, it never would've mattered. And I tell you, until this show, I never questioned like, well dang, I wonder Brandy's really my sister or she's really my cousin. But to know that this girl is really my sister.

Yeah. I'm telling you all.

Yeah, I'm just thankful you had that answer.

Yeah, I'm thankful too because for you, for you literally, Brandi, this is where you can start to rebuild that trust. Start to figure out who you are, get your answers. There's a whole nother life waiting for you full of answers, truth that's gonna help you to feel more secure. And I'm so happy for you. But what y'all have done this entire, your entire life, this is what family is about. And I'm so glad y'all got each other.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

You're so welcome. I'm so happy. You're welcome, you're welcome. I'm glad you got your answers. Oh my God.

Oh my God. You had no clue.

Right?

Took pressure off me.

Right, right. Now I can get some help. Okay, listen everyone, thank you for being with us. Make sure to come back next time, friends, so we can keep talking and growing. I love you all.